Freelance Animal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Are you a passionate animal lover who enjoys hanging out with dogs and cats? Paws and Claws is an in-home pet sitting and dog walking service, and we're seeking energetic and responsible pet lovers to join our team of big-hearted caregivers! In this role, you'll provide essential care, exercise, and companionship to pets while their people are away. This paid position is a great opportunity to turn your love for animals into income while making a positive impact on pets and their families. If you enjoy outdoor activity, being with furry friends, and giving their people peace of mind, we want to hear from you!

This job is a great fit for:

• Gig workers and part-time workers who have part of their day free
• Freelancers with flexible schedules
• Vet techs/animal care workers who can visit or stay with pets outside of work
• Grad students looking for extra income
• People who work from home and like to take breaks away from their desk

Why you'll like working with Paws and Claws:

• We offer higher pay for peak times of year and major holidays
• We advocate for our sitters to ensure they are treated with kindness and respect
• We screen our clients to ensure a smooth and pleasant work experience
• We offer more consistent work than Wag and Rover
• You can choose whether or not to accept a job

Positions (choose one or all three):

• Dog Walking: Visit our clients' homes on weekday afternoons to walk dogs while their owners are at work.
• Pet Sitting: Visit our clients' homes 1-3 times per day to walk, feed and care for their pet/s while they travel.
• Overnight/House Sitting: Spend the night in our client's homes with their pets and maintain their usual routine

Basic requirements:

• Must be available to work over at least two major holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. (We pay more during these times!)
• MUST genuinely love animals! If you don't sincerely love animals and enjoy being around them, job performance will be affected and clients will be able to see it.
• Must live in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Cupertino or West San Jose or very close to these areas
• Be physically fit and able to work and commute in all types of weather (even rainy, humid and hot days)
• Be comfortable disposing of pet waste and occasionally cleaning up stains like vomit, hairballs, urine, etc.
• Have a reliable vehicle and valid drivers' license
• Must be able arrive at client homes at the time/within the window requested or agreed to
• Able to provide a current and clean background check
• Be 100% reliable (we'll do our best to cover emergencies but "calling in sick" or dropping out last minute is not an option, as the pets in your care depend on you)
• Must show proof of pet sitting insurance or be willing to pay for discounted coverage through Paws and Claws
• Must be age 18 or over
• High School Diploma or Equivalent

Skills Needed:

• Professional experience not required, but must be knowledgeable on dog and cat behavior and needs
• Be detail oriented and able to follow instructions given by clients
• Understand how to calm anxious pets
• Encourage shy or withdrawn pets to approach and bond with you
• Identify possible health problems such as ear infections, skin wounds, etc.
• Know how to avoid/prevent possible fights or other danger when taking dogs to parks/public areas
• Know how to prevent and address potential problems such as pets escaping, eating/chewing dangerous items, preventing "potty" accidents, etc.
• Must possess good interpersonal skills in order to build rapport with pet owners
• Good at meeting and starting conversations with new people
• Respond promptly when contacted by clients
• Identify, understand and address potential concerns clients may have
• Build a trusting and comfortable interpersonal relationship with pet owners

Join us in creating joyful experiences for pets while enjoying a work environment filled with furry friends! This paid position offers the chance to develop your animal handling skills while making a meaningful difference in the lives of pets and their owners.